PORTSMOUTH — The Police Department will post an additional police detail at the intersection of Marcy and Court streets on nights the Prescott Park Arts Festival holds events.

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By Jeff McMenemy

seacoastonline.com

By Jeff McMenemy

Posted Aug. 15, 2014 at 2:00 AM

By Jeff McMenemy

Posted Aug. 15, 2014 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

PORTSMOUTH — The Police Department will post an additional police detail at the intersection of Marcy and Court streets on nights the Prescott Park Arts Festival holds events.

The city's Parking and Traffic Safety Committee voted to take the step Thursday after residents in the South End neighborhood raised concerns about speeding and traffic congestion there.

Mark Nelson, the city's director of the Division of Parking and Transportation, said the issues in the area are "probably exacerbated with all the activity at Prescott Park," but he said there are other problems as well.

"Apparently, Court Street is seen as a fast way by the downtown and so the corner gets a lot of rapid traffic," Nelson said during the committee's meeting Thursday in Council Chambers in City Hall.

Beth Margeson, who lives near Prescott Park, said she would like to see speed limit signs posted and perhaps some other "calming measures."

Nelson said there had been a speed study conducted on the streets, but there was "some reluctance to post all those streets with signs, because there's an awful lot of downtown signs."

"There's a reluctance against sign clutter, but this may be a different situation ... it's a safety thing," Nelson added.

Department of Public Works Director Peter Rice suggested the additional police detail as a "short-term measure," but said city officials could look at the speed study and "determine whether stop signs are appropriate at Marcy and Court."